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Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown Part 7
UPDATE: The battle against proposed casinos in the heart of Philadelphia ensues. It’s now a citywide effort and not just a Chinatown matter. The thing is that it was never just a Chinatown matter but now a coalition has been formed (The No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition) that includes major groups like The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and AAU amongst many others. The coalition’s first move is a press conference at the Bellevue Hotel (Broad & Walnut Sts) Headquarters for Gov. Rendell and PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust), Wednesday, February 18, 11am.
Download the full press release
Link to AAUSpeakers include: Bishop Peggy Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church; Pastor Ellis Washington, president, Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity; Tom Earle, CEO, Liberty Resources; and coalition partners.
Below is the statement of Beliefs and Commitments of this new coalition.
No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition
Statement of Beliefs and CommitmentsWe, the undersigned organizations, enter into coalition with each other, united by the following beliefs and commitments.
By joining the Coalition, each of our organizations commits to mobilizing our constituency and bringing our own strengths and resources to the work of the Coalition.
OUR BELIEFS:
1) We oppose putting a casino in the heart of our city.
A Center City slots parlor aims to take money from the pocketbooks of Philadelphians who can least afford it (especially low-income, elderly, and people of color, riders of mass transit, center city workers, Chinatown workers and residents, and Gallery shoppers).2) We decry the unfair fast-tracking of the Gallery casino.
It is patently discriminatory for our public servants to work to protect some communities from this noxious industry and then to move at a feverish pace to impose it as quickly as possible in a place that will expose the maximum number of Philadelphians to it.3) We reject actions by our public officials that make them active partners with the casino industry – promoting gambling to our residents and transit riders and redesigning our central historical, business and residential corridor around a gambling anchor.
The slots business is a predatory industry that profits off addiction and impoverishes its clientele. We do not build a healthy economy or a balanced budget by increasing levels of poverty and addiction among our citizens.4) We reject the choice of any site for a casino that would threaten the health and welfare of any neighborhood.
No casino should be sited in any neighborhood that would change the nature and character of the neighborhood, or interfere with that neighborhood’s sustainable economic development.OUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER:
- The Coalition will operate utilizing a fair and open process.
- The Coalition will share its knowledge and all relevant information with the community.
- The Coalition will speak with unity. At the same time, the multiple voices of our members make us stronger. Individual organizations and persons are encouraged to voice their own issues and perspectives within the broad unity expressed in this statement.
- The Coalition will collectively make strategic decisions, especially regarding lobbying, meetings with politicians and other decision makers, and significant public statements.
- Coalition members commit to speaking openly with each other about differences, mistakes, criticisms, and rumors. We enter into this Coalition with a spirit of unity, generosity, and good will.
SIGNATORIES (as of December 17, 2008)
Arch Street United Methodist Church, Outreach Committee
Asian Americans United
Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
Casino Free Philadelphia
Chinese Benevolent Association
Chinese Christian Church & Center
Chinese Christian Herald Crusade
Chinese Overseas Association
Family, INC
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School
Germantown Clergy Initiative
Greater Germantown Business Association
Greater Philadelphiaa Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Learning Partners Charter School
Liberation Fellowship CDC
Media Mobilizing Project
New York Tai Look Association
ODUNDE, Inc.
On Leong Chinese Merchants Association
Palmer Foundation
Philadelphia Chinese Dragon Boat Association
Philadelphia Guang Dong Association
Shalom Center
Students Against the Gallery CasiNO!
Temple University Chinese Student Assoc.
Teo Chew Association of Philadelphia
Tsung Tsin Association
University of Pennsylvania Chinese Student AssociationIf your organization is interested in joining the many groups that have signed on to the coalition, please contact Helen Gym at 215.808.1400 or HGBF @ aol.com
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